Susan Collins

Susan Collins
U.S. Senate (R-ME)

"I appreciate the support of IAPAC, the political action committee of the Public Affairs Alliance of Iranian Americans. The leadership of the Alliance in educating policy makers about the Iranian American community's contributions to the social and economic fabric of our nation is important."

Susan M. Collins is the junior Senator from Maine. She serves on the Armed Services Committee and is the ranking member of the Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee, which has jurisdiction over the Department of Homeland Security and is the Senate's chief oversight committee. Prior to her election to the Senate, Collins served as the New England regional director of the U.S. Small Business Administration.

Described as one of the last survivors of the moderate Northeastern Republican, Collins is considered a centrist member of the Republican Party, and an influential player in the U.S. Senate.

Collins has earned a national reputation as a thoughtful, effective legislator, who works across party lines to seek consensus on our nation's most important issues. In 2006, she voted in favor of comprehensive immigration reform. The legislation would expedite the reunification of families currently awaiting visas and increases employment-based sponsorships.

A proponent of civil liberties, Collins has voiced concerns about civil liberties relating to the National Cyber Security Center and Comprehensive National Cybersecurity Initiatives. She has co-sponsored legislation to prohibit cruel, inhuman, or degrading treatment or punishment of persons under the custody or control of the United States Government. In 2001, she voted in favor of expanding the definition of hate crimes to incorporate acts committed because of a victim's sex, sexual orientation, or disability and permit the federal government to help states prosecute hate crimes even if no federally protected action was implicated.